In light of recent events around college campuses in various states, but in particular Kentucky, I thought it may be timely to post something I’ve been talking about for nearly a year but never wrote down anywhere in a post. This is not a comment on the recent events or an attempt to offer any kind of opinion or thoughts regarding those moments. Instead I just wanted to offer some thoughts about our hearts posture towards what are known as “revival,” “outpourings” or “open heavens”
Recently I’ve stopped praying for revival …
… I know that’s an awkward statement, but, let me explain what I mean.
Nearly a year ago our dishwasher broke down. Like many families, we have a chore chart for our boys, they have one chore each day and rotate different chores so they don’t have to do the same chore all the time. One of their chores is to load the dishwasher. In truth they never particularly enjoy that chore but when the dishwasher broke the chore became to wash the dishes and they liked it even less. Each night one of them invariably asked me to do their chore for them and they came up with all sorts of excuses, but in an effort to teach them responsibility for the environment they live in they always have to do their chore.
I wonder if we ever behave like that towards God?
While He was on earth Jesus commissioned His followers to make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father Son and the Holy Spirit. But how many hours do we spend asking Him to send revival, (if I had a dollar for every time I’ve been in a prayer meeting and someone has prayed this, I’d be writing this from a hot tub, sipping O Amazon in some kind of tropical paradise.) Are we asking Him to do what He has commissioned us to do?
Now please don’t misunderstand what I am saying I do not believe we can accomplish the task He commissioned without His power at work through us. But the more I read the new testament the more I notice a correlation of moves of God with moves of His people.
So no longer do I pray for revival in our city, in our state, in our nation, in our world, but instead I pray that God would revive me and that I would carry His Kingdom, His presence, His power wherever I go, wherever I set foot, that our city, our state, our nation, our world may be revived as His power overflows. That I may make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit wherever I go.
Fair comment and I respect your theological reasoning. However, whilst praying recently, I was reminded of the woman who had spent all of her earnings trying to be healed from bleeding. When she touched the edge of Jesus’ cloak she was healed instantly. Some of our churches spend a lot of time and money trying to spread the gospel with little progress. If only they would touch the edge of Jesus’ cloak (i.e. get down low and worship Him) then they would receive Holy Spirit power to proclaim the good news. This is revival!
Sometimes I wish the bible gave us more information about stories like this, for instance, how did the lady with the issue of blood hear about Jesus or know about the prophecy that the messiah would carry healing in his wings? My guess it was a mixture of word of mouth and divine revelation. In no way am I diminishing the power of prayer, but suggesting a shift in prayer towards prayer that pursues God’s heart to bring our world more alive through the power of His Holy Spirit working in us as we carry His good news wherever we go, rather than asking God to send revival outside of the responsibility He has commissioned us with.